Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP

Partner Thomas Lombardi Featured Panelist at State Bar of California’s Real Property Section Annual Retreat

Admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:18:04 +0000

Members of the State Bar of California’s Real Property Section gathered for a three day professional retreat May 4th to May 6th in Lake Tahoe that included networking events and seminars presented by attorneys recognized in the legal community for their expertise in various areas of real estate. Partner Thomas Lombardi, whose practice focuses on the representation of real estate owners and operators, joined a panel of experts to discuss new developments in California law affecting commercial and residential landlords and tenants.

The panel was moderated by Professor Myron Moskovitz. Notably, Professor Moskovitz represented the pro-rent control interveners in the seminal rent control case of Birkenfeld v. the City of Berkeley (l976) l7 Cal.3d. l29.

Mr. Lombardi shared his views and analysis on the latest legal decisions affecting California commercial real estate owners, operators and their tenants in the area of commercial landlord-tenant law. The presentation also featured a lively debate between the landlord and tenant advocates on the panel.

Learn more about Mr. Lombardi’s real estate practice.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP Opens San Francisco Office

Admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:25:37 +0000

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP has announced the opening of its San Francisco office. The office will serve its existing and growing client base in securities, consumer financial services, real estate, employment, business and intellectual property litigation, mortgage banking compliance and regulatory matters, securities regulatory matters, as well as corporate transactions.

“The opening of our San Francisco office solidifies the firm’s commitment to offer our legal services throughout California,” said Managing Partner E. Scott Palmer. “We are excited to expand our geographical reach and serve our clients on a broader scale.”

The office is located at One Post Street, Suite 2750, San Francisco, CA 94104.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue Obtains an $800,000 FINRA Arbitration Award for UBS Financial Services

Admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:00:55 +0000

Partner Devin A. Donohue of Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP represented UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS) against a former UBS broker who failed to repay approximately $800,000 he owed to UBS after leaving the firm. UBS filed suit against the broker in FINRA arbitration, and the broker, through his counsel asserted various employment counterclaims seeking more than $3 million in damages from UBS. Mr. Donohue secured from the panel a full principal arbitration award plus interest and a dismissal of the broker’s seven figure counterclaims in their entirety. The broker subsequently paid UBS in full for all principal and interest owed on the award.

Partner Jeff Warren to Speak at the Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy and College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University

Admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:29:14 +0000

Corporate attorney Jeff Warren will be a panelist at this year’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy at Purdue University discussing the state of venture investing and the process for undertaking early stage finance. Mr. Warren is also scheduled to speak to the …

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP Obtains Court of Appeals Decision Affirming Arbitration Award for J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:02:49 +0000

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP represented J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC (JPMS), in an appeal that challenged a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration award. The appellant Vivine Wang, appealed the District Court’s interpretation of the JPMS Customer Agreement as to the recovery by JPMS of a $3 million dollar debit balance and its reasonable legal costs and expenses. On October 31, 2011 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the arbitration “was proper under the terms of the Customer Agreement,” and affirmed the FINRA arbitration award in JPMS’ favor.

Partner Brett D. Watson Authors Article Published by ABA Banking Journal Discussing Employee Embezzlement Claims Against Charge Card Issuers

Admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:13:46 +0000

Partner Brett D. Watson authored an article featured in the ABA Banking Journal, titled “Defending card issuers against employee embezzlement claims.” The article examines the rise in lawsuits brought against charge card issuers by employers seeking reimbursement for losses due to employee embezzlement. He writes that many such claims against card issuers “are meritless and costly.” Mr. Watson then provides a framework for successfully defending card issuers, comprised of, inter alia, demonstrating an employer’s “failure to properly supervise their employees, review their monthly account statements, and timely report any suspected unauthorized transactions.” Read full article.

Partners Scott Palmer and Tom Lombardi Selected For Inclusion in 2012 Super Lawyers

Admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:41:34 +0000

Partners Scott Palmer and Thomas Lombardi have been named to the 2012 list of Southern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is an annual ranking of outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have achieved a high degree of …

Attorney Mary Manesis Discusses Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against MannKind Corporation

Admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:05:45 +0000

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP attorney Mary Manesis was quoted in the Los Angeles Business Journal article, “Insulin Inhaler Too Puffed Up?” discussing a lawsuit filed against the pharmaceutical company MannKind Corporation for allegedly misleading investors about the prospects of an insulin inhaler, Afrezza, which the FDA concluded required further clinical testing. Ms. Manesis, who has defended pharmaceutical companies in several securities class actions, said that an important part of the case will be exactly what MannKind knew prior to the FDA’s decision. She commented, “What would be key in any trial is to really understand the nature of the dealings and communications between the company and the FDA.” According to Ms. Manesis, the case is particularly complex given the drug development and approval process and could prove lengthy, with plaintiffs’ attorneys deposing the company’s research personnel and demanding all documents related to Afrezza’s development.

John C. Steele and Jeffrey N. Goldberg Promoted to Partner

Admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:32:53 +0000

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue, LLP has announced the election of two new partners, John C. Steele and Jeffrey N. Goldberg.

Mr. Steele is a trial attorney with extensive experience in securities, banking, healthcare, employment, intellectual property, and real property disputes. He represents a variety of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, brokerage firms, healthcare providers, as well as corporate officers and directors. Mr. Steele obtained his J.D. cum laude and his B.A. magna cum laude from Brigham Young University.

Mr. Goldberg is a trial attorney who has handled various litigation matters in state and federal courts, including appeals in both the California Courts of Appeal and the United States Courts of Appeals. Mr. Goldberg also has extensive experience in arbitration proceedings in various forums (including FINRA, AAA, JAMS, and NAF) and related court proceedings. While Mr. Goldberg has a broad range of experience in civil litigation matters, Mr. Goldberg concentrates his practice on securities litigation. Mr. Goldberg earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law and received his B.A. from Emory University.

Read full press release.

Attorney Jeffrey Warren Joins Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue as Head of Corporate Department

Admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:05:19 +0000

As profiled in the Daily Journal and The Recorder, Attorney Jeffrey Warren has joined the firm as partner and head of the firm’s corporate department. Mr. Warren has nearly 30 years of experience specializing in finance, business acquisitions, workouts, fund formation, partnering, governance and general commercial transactions. Mr. Warren also has extensive experience with public and private offerings, business acquisitions, investment management counsel, regulatory compliance, enforcement counsel, corporate governance and business planning, and varied dispute resolution involvement. He has argued cases in bankruptcy and other courtrooms from New York to Hawaii, and achieved success in defending administrative and regulatory prosecutions.

Read full press release.